It was our annual insurance meeting to discuss changes to the policy, allow for enrollment changes and all that good stuff. Due to the ACA, the number of policy options has dropped to two, policy prices have increased around 12%, and W-2's in 2014 will be changing to include an insurance premium cost section as "proof" of insurance to avoid the tax penalty. Our HR rep made the meetings mandatory for every employee, even people who are covered under spouses or other plans to drill home the point that if you're not covered by January 1st 2014 you will recieve the tax penalty under the new law. Thanks a lot Obama.

I don't think employers should be involved in the healthcare insurance game to begin with. They just use it as another negotiating tool to not pay you more money. Last thing any employee needs is an employer hanging another thing over their head. Not to mention the time, money and effort a company has to devote to it. We should just move on to a healthcare system like Japan.

You DO understand that you actually get lower rates by using your company, which can get volume discounts from the insurer, right? It would cost you significantly more if they just paid you in cash what they pay for the insurance and left you to fend for yourself.

Actually, you SHOULD have that option. Mine costs me 24 bucks a week. I could take that 24 bucks and see what kind of insurance I can get elsewhere.

As an employer, try attracting or keeping good employees when you don't offer health insurance. You're simply naive if you think a simple increase in salary equal to the companies cost of insurance will be sufficient to keep you in the market for good employees. Under your business model I should also drop my 401k contributions and profit sharing too.

I think I will start using your business model tomorrow right after I get the reinforced doors installed to keep back the stampede of stellar employees that will no doubt be trying to bust down my doors.

Japan is a great model. They must not be able to retain great employees though.

Providing insurance is one of the items to attract and retain employees.
Yes, insurance is part of the total compensation along with 401k, retirement, dental, vision, death benefits, educational assistance etc. and collectively are around 40-50% overhead to wages/salaries.

It's only used in that manner because of the type of healthcare system we have in this country.

You DO understand that you actually get lower rates by using your company, which can get volume discounts from the insurer, right? It would cost you significantly more if they just paid you in cash what they pay for the insurance and left you to fend for yourself.

Actually, you SHOULD have that option. Mine costs me 24 bucks a week. I could take that 24 bucks and see what kind of insurance I can get elsewhere.

It's only used in that manner because of the type of healthcare system we have in this country.

not sure that matters...what does Japan do that is so different?
I doubt that they are turning over the "saved" dollars from paying in premiums to the employees

__________________Ephesians 2:8-10

English Standard Version (ESV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

I'm getting really tired of hearing all the insurance executives complaining about how this is affecting their profit margins.

Oh wait.

The bastards.....

"Most of Planned Parenthood’s 750 health and abortion clinics around the nation will be covered under Obamacare, imposing a new demand on insurers who want to participate in the health care exchanges that will provide insurance coverage to millions of Americans.

While insurers currently cover doctors and health facilities in their networks, Obamacare demands that they also cover at least 20 percent of “essential community providers” in their coverage area,including Planned Parenthood, AIDS clinics, pain management centers and even alternative medicine providers.

“We’ve never covered these sorts of things,” a Wisconsin insurance provider told Secrets. Insurers said that they were just figuring out the new requirement and haven’t decided if it will raise prices. Conservative providers, however, are wary of covering Planned Parenthood."

Evil Insurance companies would rather make profit than kill babies.

__________________
Frazod to KC Nitwit..."Hey, I saw a picture of some dumpy bitch with a horrible ****tarded giant back tattoo and couldn't help but think of you." Simple, Pure, Perfect. 7/31/2013

Dave Lane: "I have donated more money to people in my life as an atheist that most churches ever will."